The Best Organic Spa Experiences in Australia

There are places that exist solely to bring relaxation and pampering into our lives – and some of them do so using only earth- and body-loving all-organic products. Which means everyone wins (mostly you!). Here are our favourite organic spas around the country.

Harmony Hill Wellness & Organic Spa Retreat, Tasmania

Few things could more relaxing than taking in the mountains and sea from Harmony Hill’s 17 secluded hectares of pristine bushland as a therapist massages your woes away. The spa, which runs five-day detox retreats, is so committed to its organic ethos that not only are all of the spa products organic, the entire property is eco-friendly. It generates its own electricity, collects rainwater, uses grey water to keep the gardens lush and eschews harsh cleaning chemicals. Its practitioners use a combination of Eastern and Western therapies, focussing on Ayurvedic principles.

Signature treatment: Chakra Healing Experience

You’ll float off the table after this combination of treatments. The Chakra Healing Experience uses Indian mama (also known as marma) point therapy, an ancient Indo-Tibetan technique, to promote a clear head and deep relaxation. The mamas are vital points around the body and this treatment focuses on the face. First, the skin is cleansed and exfoliated with an organic scrub. Next, an organic clay mask is applied before the face is massaged with organic oils. According to Harmony Hill, this will help open the thought chakra, clear negative energy and deeply purify the skin.

210 Old Bernies Road, Margate; 03 6294 8177

The Last Resort, New South Wales

Saimaa Miller’s adherents are legion: from models Miranda Kerr, Jessica Gomes and Nicole Trunfio to sugar-deniers such as Pete Evans and everyone in between. The reason? This 11-year veteran of the natural beauty industry makes skin glow. She’s a qualified naturopath and a detox specialist, but we’re most interested in the pampering that goes on at her North Bondi spa. This includes a variety of massages, body wraps and salt scrubs that all have the same result: top-to-toe bliss.

Miller opened The Last Resort 11 years ago after experiencing treatments in Asia. She wanted to emulate the feeling she had there – of total mind-body harmony. Going organic wasn’t a trend back in 2005 the way it is now, but her treatments struck a chord. The Last Resort doesn’t use any particular product range; instead, the oils, salts and scrubs used are blended in-house.

Signature treatment: Nutrient-rich Seaweed Wrap

This hour-and-a-half treatment begins with skin-brushing to remove dead skin cells and activate the lymph. Next, the body is scrubbed with Himalayan salt and oil before being smothered in kelp and seaweed and wrapped up in a “cocoon”. As you lie in your heavenly green sludge, a 20-minute foot massage is administered. After showering off the kelp mixture, you’re given a 30-40-minute massage with natural birch oil. Afterward, the skin feels smooth and polished and the body feels light as air.

71 Glenayr Avenue, North Bondi; 02 9300 6033

Gwinganna, Queensland

This is the Rolls Royce of organic spas – or rather, the top-of-the-line Prius. It’s the place to stop, take a deep breath and let it all go. Gwinganna is a deeply relaxing oasis where wallabies curiously observe outdoor yoga classes and the staff are truly zen. Gwinganna offers 33 treatment rooms for its guests to experience a whole range of wellness therapies from naturopathy and kinesiology to didgeridoo healing rituals. It’s also the only spa in Australia to offer equine therapy to help with learning, emotional issues and meditation.

Signature treatment: Rockupuncture

The options are diverse at Gwinganna but you can’t go past Rockupuncture, which is a divine mash-up of acupuncture and hot-stone massage. Heated basalt stones – from the coast of Ireland, no less – are placed on the body while a therapist performs Japanese-style acupuncture. The combination enables a realignment of meridians and is recommended for people coping with stress, insomnia and fertility issues.

192 Syndicate Road, Tallebudgera Valley; 1800 219 272

Swiss Wellness, South Australia

Founder Melinda Harper developed an organic skincare range 20 years ago in response to a lack of toxin-free products on the market. The SwissWellness range proved so popular that the Swiss Wellness day spa was opened eight years later to administer de-stressing, detoxing treatments.

The SwissWellness range is entirely organic and massage oils are concocted on-site using coconut oil and organic essential oils. Salt scrubs are also made in-house using ground coffee, almond oil, avocado oil, raw cacao, Himalayan pink salt, aloe vera and oatmeal.

Signature treatment: Chocolate Body Indulgence

This treatment could also work as a trio of gelato flavours. First, the body is exfoliated with a stimulating coffee scrub before the body is positively smothered with a chocolate body mask, which is made with organic cacao mixed with deep-sea clay and essential oils. While you marinate in the delicious-smelling body mask, a therapist performs a scalp massage before it’s all rinsed off. The final step is a full-body massage with organic vanilla body lotion.

125 King William Road, Hyde Park, Adelaide; 08 8373 3699

Chuan at The Langham, Victoria

Not only is The Langham one of the best-positioned hotels in Melbourne, it’s home to Chuan where, in the middle of the city, calm reigns. Therapists at the two-storey pampering complex use Phyt’s products, a French brand of certified organic skincare.

Take your time to wallow in the heated infinity pool, gazing out over the city skyline and try the steam room and Swedish dry sauna. Rinse off in the river stone snail shower – that’s 12 jets of water targeting different muscle groups in the body while a gentle rain of steamy-hot water falls gently from above. If you don’t think it’s possible to get more relaxed, head to one of the treatment rooms to be proven wrong.

Signature treatment: Chuan Heavenly Jing Luo

To call it a foot massage seems woefully inadequate. The lucky recipient is seated in a zero-gravity recliner while a mask packed with Chinese herbs and hot stones is applied to the feet. The 70-minute – 70-MINUTE – foot massage that follows is reportedly so soothing that many recipients drift off to sleep.

The Langham Melbourne, 1 Southgate Avenue, Southbank, Melbourne; 03 8696 8111